K. Kromeyer-hauschild et U. Jaeger, Growth studies in Jena, Germany: Changes in sitting height, biacromial andbicristal breadth in the past decenniums, AM J HUM B, 12(5), 2000, pp. 646-654
Citations number
48
Categorie Soggetti
Sociology & Antropology","Medical Research General Topics
Changes in sitting height, biacromial and bicristal breadths, and the acrom
io-cristal index in school children from Jena between 7 and 14 years of age
are described. Additionally, a secular comparison of these measurements an
d the index was done, based on the long series of surveys available for sch
oolchildren in Jena. During childhood, sex differences in the dimensions an
d the index are usually slight, but with the onset of the adolescent spurt
sex differences are clear. Females become relatively broader-hipped and sho
rter-legged than males, with the differences especially marked in the acrom
io-cristal index. Biacromial and bicristal breadths and sifting height incr
eased, on average, between the first investigation in 1975 and the survey i
n 1995. In contrast, the acromio-cristal index remained almost constant in
boys and girls over the observed time, with few exceptions. When related to
stature, both breadth measurements of the trunk have increased, whereas th
e ratio of sitting height to stature remained constant in most age groups b
etween 1975 and 1995. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.